The Lane: The Super Bowl Shuffle

If I was not sitting in front of the television prepared to watch Entertainment Tonight when my grandmother’s wall clock struck 7PM, I believe I would have changed into a pumpkin.

The tabloid and entertainment news broadcast educated me on all thingsHollywood, which was far more enjoyable than the spelling words I needed to be studying. Each episode filled my young mind with anticipation for coming-soon movie releases, musicians not getting rotation in my grandfather’s Buick, and behind-the-scenes celebrity antics from must-watch television shows. Host Mary Hart made all these sound like the most exciting happenings ever. In this particular episode she was hyping upcoming Super Bowl XX.

For those ignorant of sports knowledge, the Super Bowl – the National Football League (NFL) finale pitting its AFC (American Football Conference) Champion versus its NFC (National Football Conference) Champion for league supremacy – is not only THE football game, but also one of the biggest annual television events in the world.

The AFC Champion New England Patriots were preparing to take on the “Monsters of the Midway” – NFC Champion Chicago Bears, and Hart wasn’t exuberantly breaking down defensive match-ups, offensive advantages, or even predicting a winner. She was bringing attention to the release of a rap music video filmed by the Bears called “The Super Bowl Shuffle”.

As the clip of the video began to play my mouth fell open like a trap door on a Looney Tunes cartoon. I was showing signs of being the football fan I am today, while my love of Hip Hop was also in its early stages. And hip hop then was Run DMC and Jam Master Jay.

This display of rhymes by a group of old beefy NFL players calling themselves The Chicago Bears Shufflin’ Crew – a group that included late Hall of Fame running back “Sweetness” Walter Payton, one of the most respected men in sports history – paled in comparison to what the Hollis, Queens trio were famous for. To me the Bears looked, and sounded, silly. By the time Mary Hart finished talking up the tune in this ET segment, I was not only appalled but oddly anxious to hear the entire song.

Today the Bears’ “The Super Bowl Shuffle” is an iconic song, the chorus especially (“We’re not here to start no trouble; we’re just here to do the Super Bowl Shuffle”). It became so almost instantly! Watching the video now I still think its silly looking. But I also respect its significance, and am proud to admit I find it pretty cool.

Let’s go down memory lane!

–Mr. Joe Walker

Mr. Joe Walker, a senior contributor for SoulTrain.com, is an acclaimed entertainment and news journalist published thousands of times regionally, nationally, internationally, and online. He loves to create, loves that you read. Follow him on Twitter @mrjoewalker. Also visit ByMrJoeWalker.blogspot.com and TheUIMag.com.